2nd ASEAN Symposium and Workshop on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation. Click here

World’s first Trans-Boundary Marine Park between Sabah, Malaysia and the Philippines.

Introduction to the Turtle Island Heritage Protected Area (TIHPA)

History in the Development Of The Sabah - Philippines TIHPA

Management Objectives of the TIHPA

Institutional arrangements

Key Initiatives

Educational Goals Initiative Marked For Critical Funding

Research Objectives and Strategies

Economic Opportunities

Expected Deliverables

News Around the Region

Sharp decline in Turtle population

Turning to a Turtle Haven

2nd ASEAN Symposium and Workshop on 
Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation

SESSION 2: Nesting and Foraging Populations

ABSTRACTS

According to a report from Ling et al. In 1990, that more than 90% of sea turtle populations in China are distributed in the South China Sea. However, the political instability in the region complicates the sea turtle survey and conservation measures. The marines from the nations in the region occupy most of the islands. Very little information is known about the nesting and feeding populations of sea turtles. With the collaboration of Council of Agriculture and Defense Department, two surveys were carried out in July 1994 to Pratas Island and in April 1995 to Taipin Dao of Spartly Islands. The 12-days survey on Pratas Island found very few nesting hawksbill turtles and no green turtle nested on the island. The nesting season occurs in the summertime. A recent reef check on Pratas Atolls in 1998 revealed severe reef bleaching in the lagoon region. All the evidences suggested substantial destructive fishing using KCN solution and dynamite in this region.

A 5-days survey on Taipin Tao showed that both hawksbill and green turtles could be found nesting on this island. There are, however, more nesting green turtles than the hawksbill turtles. Questionnaire interviews showed that the nesting green turtle population is between 25 to 35 females annually and the nesting season lasts all-year round. The nesting environment in the adjacent islands is severely destructive by the Marines from other nations. Pirates and illegal fishing are among other serious problems in this area.

Both surveys showed that the protection of nesting beaches on these islands are insufficient to conserve the sea turtle populations in the South China Sea. It is strongly recommended that ASEAN should expand their sea turtle conservation program to include all nations who deploy Marines to occupy islands in the South China Sea, and all governments work cooperatively to save our declining sea turtle populations.